The Henri Delaunay Trophy for champion team of the UEFA European Championship /VCG
For first time since its foundation in 1958, the UEFA European Championship will not take place in the same year as the summer Olympics because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Some teams are happy because this hiatus will help their young, talented players grow, while others are upset because their key members are aging and cannot afford to wait any longer.
Italy
Marco Verratti (L) and Giorgio Chiellini (R) of Italy celebrate after scoring a goal in a UEFA Euro 2020 qualifying tournament game against Bosnia and Herzegovina at Allianz Stadium in Turin, Italy, June 11, 2019. /VCG
Italy have been doing much better at the European Championship than they did in the FIFA World Cup in the past two editions of the two events. In 2012, they lost to Spain in the final. Four years later, the Blues lost to champion candidate Germany in penalty shootouts.
Unlike the previous "fancy fashion football squads," today's Italy have kept it low and preferred efficiency. Their ace striker Ciro Immobile already scored 27 goals in Serie A this season but has not built any reputation in international competitions. He is likely to be joined by Federico Chiesa and Lorenzo Insigne to make the team's offensive partnership.
Most of Italy's players have not reached 30 and the biggest risk for them is the serious COVID-19 pandemic situation within the country. By Saturday, there were 47,021 confirmed cases and 4,032 deaths in Italy (both the highest in Europe), according to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC). Daniele Rugani, a center back from Juventus has tested positive for the virus. To stay healthy and survive this disease matter the most to Italy now.
Belgium
Kevin De Bruyne #7 and Romelu Lukaku #9 of Belgium celebrate after scoring a goal in a UEFA Euro 2020 qualifying tournament game against Scotland at King Baudouin Stadium in Brussels, Belgium, June 11, 2019. /VCG
Though they did not win the championship in Russia, Belgium's "Golden Generation" impressed the world at the 2018 World Cup. Considering that their rivals in Group B are only Denmark, Finland and Russia, making the Round of 16 should not be a problem.
However, there are still two concerns for the Red Devils. The first is their offensive engine Eden Hazard. He left Chelsea for Real Madrid last summer but his performance has since been disappointing. Even though he only played 10 games because of injury, dropping only one goal and one assist doesn't seem like a good bargain when Real Madris paid him 100 million euros (about 107.6 million U.S. dollars).
Belgium's second concern is with their four of their key players. Jan Vertonghen, Toby Alderweireld, Thomas Vermaelen and Axel Witsel will turn 33, 32, 35 and 32 next year. It's hard to tell whether they will still have what it takes to make a champion-level defensive line at that time.
The Netherlands
Virgil van Dijk (L) and Memphis Depay (R) of the Netherlands celebrate after a UEFA Euro 2020 qualifying tournament game against Belarus at Feyenoord Stadium in Rotterdam, Netherlands, March 21, 2019. /VCG
The Dutch players do not need extra motivation to give their best at the European Championship after the team missed the last edition of the event in 2016 and the 2018 World Cup. Sometimes, humiliation can be the best stimulus.
The amazing performance of Ajax at the UEFA Champions League last season reminded fans of how talented Clockwork Orange can be. Virgil van Dijk, Matthijs de Ligt and Frenkie de Jong belong to the biggest defensive names in the field. It's the team's offense that could be concerning because their best striker is Memphis Depay from Ligue 1's Olympique Lyonnais.
The good news is that there will be enough time for Depay to recover from his torn anterior cruciate ligament.
Croatia
Luka Modric (L) and Marcelo Brozovic (R) of Croatia pay tributes to fans after a UEFA Euro 2020 qualifying tournament game against Wales at Stadion Gradski vrt in Osijek, Croatia, June 8, 2019. /VCG
Age is the biggest enemy for the runner-up of the 2018 World Cup. Their best player Luka Modric is already 34 and he's slipping on the field. When one number added to his age next year, will Modric still be able to lead Croatia as he used to?
The Real Madrid midfielder is not the only one aging. Other key players of Croatia, including Ivan Rakitić, Ivan Perisic, Dejan Lovren and Domagoj Vida, will all be in their 30s in 2021. Meanwhile, the new generation – Ante Rebić, Marcelo Brozović, Mateo Kovacic – are not yet ready to take over.
England
Harry Kane #9 of England celebrates after scoring a goal in a UEFA Euro 2020 qualifying tournament game against Kosovo at Fadil Vokrri Stadium in Pristina, Kosovo, November 7, 2019. /VCG
Cheer up mates, the European Championship being postponed can be the best news to The Three Lions. The team's two major strikers, Harry Kane and Marcus Rashford are currently struggling with injuries and they will have enough time to recover.
There has been a genius blowout from England's youth development system in recent years – 19-year-old Jadon Sancho, 21-year-old Trent Alexander-Arnold, 22-year-old Tammy Abraham, 21-year-old Mason Mount, 19-year-old Phil Foden are all are among the top of their generation. One year is long enough to raise more expectations from them.
By the way, both the semi-final and final of the Championship will take place at Wembley Stadium. The last time England won the World Cup title happened in 1966 at the same stadium.
Spain
Players of Spain celebrate after scoring a goal in a UEFA Euro 2020 qualifying tournament game against Romania at Estadio Metropolitano in Madrid, Spain, November 18, 2019. /VCG
The Red Fury have been on the wane since they won the European Championship in 2012. Their squad still seems capable – Sergio Ramos, Gerard Pique, Thiago, David de Gea – despite the lack a game-changing genius. Marco Asensio might have that in him but he first needs to recover from his torn ACL.
Spain shares a similar problem with Italy: the new coronavirus. The country so far has 19,980 confirmed cases and 1,002 deaths, both the second-highest in Europe, according to the ECDC. Their left back Jose Luis Gaya has tested positive for the virus, the rest of the team must be more careful.
France
Players of France celebrate after scoring a goal in a UEFA Euro 2020 qualifying tournament game against Albania at Stade de France stadium in Paris, France, September 7, 2019. /VCG
The 2018 World Cup champions may be the only team that doesn't really care whether the European Championship is postponed or not, because they are way stronger than other rivals.
Olivier Giroud is too old? Fine, he is not a core element. Blaise Matuidi tested positive for the virus? Hope he gets better soon. Ousmane Dembélé needs time to recover from his injuries and he may cause trouble in the locker room? Manager Didier Deschamps already has enough hard choices to make selecting from Kylian Mbappé, Antoine Griezmann, Kingsley Coman and Florian Thauvin and can afford to leave Dembélé at home.
Simply speaking, the only one that can stop France from winning the title this time are themselves.
Portugal
Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal pays tribute to fans after a UEFA Euro 2020 qualifying tournament game against Luxembourg in Luxembourg, November 17, 2019. /VCG
Despite being 35 years old, Cristiano Ronaldo is still one of the best scoring machines on earth. If you have any doubt about him aging, watch one of his games and then you will stop to worry.
However, it will be extremely difficult for Portugal to defend their championship this time. The team are in Group C, with France and Germany. It will be quite challenging for them to even make the Round of 16.
In fact, compared with title competition, fans can switch their attention to the performance of João Félix, a 20-year-old genius who cost Atletico Madrid 126 million euros (about 135.7 million U.S. dollars) to land. If he can do what Ronaldo did 16 years ago, Portugal's future will remain bright.
Germany
Leroy Sane (L) and Timo Werner (R) of Germany celebrate after scoring a goal in a EFA Euro 2020 qualifying tournament game against Estonia at Opel Arena in Mainz, Germany, June 11, 2019. /VCG
Will the European Championship start a new era for Germany? The team's knockout in Russia two years ago was humiliating enough for manager Joachim Loew to go so aggressive in rebuilding the squad that he "fired" three key players, Thomas Muller, Jerome Boateng and Mats Hummels.
Since then, Germany has been taking in new blood and has established an outstanding foundation of Leroy Sane, Joshua Kimmich, Serge Gnabry, Timo Werner and Niklas Süle. Besides, two veterans, Manuel Neuer and Toni Kroos, will always be there to help keep order.